Nephrology Flashcards
(104 cards)
Answer these four questions when solving acid-base problems:
- What is the primary disturbance?
- Is compensation appropriate?
- What is the anion gap?
- Does the change in the anion gap equal the change in the serum bicarbonate concentration (a value called the delta-delta)?
Acidemia
pH <7.38
Metabolic acidosis
= [HCO3] <24 meq/L
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory acidosis = arterial PCO2 >40 mm Hg.
Alkalemia
pH >7.42
Metabolic alkalosis
Metabolic alkalosis = [HCO3] >24 meq/L
Respiratory alkalosis
Respiratory alkalosis = arterial PCO2 <40 mm Hg.
Metabolic Acidosis Expected Compensation (Acute)
Acute: Δ arterial PCO2 = (1.5)[HCO3–] + 8 ± 2
Failure of the arterial PCO2 to decrease to expected value = complicating respiratory acidosis
Excessive decrease of the arterial PCO2 = complicating respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic Acidosis Expected Compensation (Chronic)
Chronic: Δ arterial PCO2 = [HCO3–] + 15
Failure of the arterial PCO2 to decrease to expected value = complicating respiratory acidosis
Excessive decrease of the arterial PCO2 = complicating respiratory alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis Expected Compensation (Acute)
cute: 1 meq/L ↑ in [HCO3–] for each 10 mm Hg ↑ in arterial PCO2
Failure of the [HCO3–] to increase to the expected value = complicating metabolic acidosis
Excessive increase in [HCO3–] = complicating metabolic alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis Expected Compensation (Chronic)
Chronic: 3.5 meq/L ↑ in [HCO3–] for each 10 mm Hg ↑ in arterial PCO2
Failure of the [HCO3–] to increase to the expected value = complicating metabolic acidosis
Excessive increase in [HCO3–] = complicating metabolic alkalosis
Metabolic alkalosis Expected Compensation (Acute)
0.7 meq/L ↑ in arterial [HCO3–] for each 1 mm Hg ↑ in PCO2
This response is limited by hypoxemia
Respiratory alkalosis Expected Compensation (Acute)
Acute: 2 meq/L ↓ in [HCO3–] for each 10 mm Hg ↓ in arterial PCO2
Failure of the [HCO3–] to decrease to the expected value = complicating metabolic alkalosis
Excessive decrease in [HCO3–] = complicating metabolic acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis Expected Compensation (Chronic)
Chronic: 4 meq/L ↓ in [HCO3–] for each 10 mm Hg ↓ in arterial PCO2
Failure of the [HCO3–] to decrease to the expected value = complicating metabolic alkalosis
Excessive decrease in [HCO3–] = complicating metabolic acidosis
Anion Gap
anion gap = [Na+] − ([Cl–] + [HCO3–]).
Normal anion gap is 12 ± 2 meq/L
When the primary disturbance is not a metabolic acidosis, the anion gap helps detect
“hidden” anion gap metabolic acidosis.
An anion gap (<4 meq/L) suggests
multiple myeloma or hypoalbuminemia
Common causes of anion gap acidosis include:
- DKA
- CKD
l3. actic acidosis (usually due to tissue hypoperfusion) - aspirin toxicity
- alcoholic ketosis
- methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning
Common causes of normal anion gap metabolic acidosis include:
!. GI HCO3– loss (diarrhea)
- kidney HCO3– loss (ileal bladder, proximal renal tubular acidosis)
- reduced kidney H+ secretion (distal renal tubular acidosis, type IV renal tubular acidosis)
- Fanconi syndrome (phosphaturia, glucosuria, uricosuria, aminoaciduria)
- carbonic anhydrase inhibitor use
Urine Anion Gap
defined as (urine [Na+] + urine [K+]) – urine [Cl–].
UAG is normally between 30 to 50 meq/L
Negative Urine Anion Gap
Metabolic acidosis of extrarenal origin is usually suggested by the clinical circumstances but in uncertain cases is suggested by a large negative UAG
Positive Urine Anion Gap
metabolic acidosis caused by distal (type 1) renal tubular acidosis, hypoaldosteronism (including type 4 renal tubular acidosis), and CKD.
Delta-Delta
in anion gap acidosis, the expected ratio between the change in anion gap and the change in plasma [HCO3] concentration (Δ anion gap/Δ [HCO3]) is 1 to 2.
If (Δ anion gap/Δ [HCO3]) is <1, consider
concurrent normal–anion gap acidosis